Career Start
Career Start is Suffolk’s two-year rotational program for recent college graduates who are passionate about the opportunity to grow their career in construction management. Career Start builds the future leaders of the organization, who will redefine what is possible in the industry and change the skylines of our cities.
The program, which accepts an incoming class each July, is made up of a national cohort across each of our regions. Career Starts complete three rotations geared at mastering the fundamentals of estimating, project management, and field operations.
Career Start Rotations
Estimating
Learn the fundamentals of preconstruction by reading plans and drawings, selecting trade partners, assembling bids, and engaging with the technology and systems we use to build a project estimate.
Project
management
Work with our team and gain a deep understanding of the project manager’s role within each critical area of project management. Gain experience with budgets and schedules, management of contractual requirements, change orders, RFIs, submittals, and the other building blocks of running a project.
Field
operations
Discover the technical fundamentals of building by working with superintendents at all levels and trade partners to ensure a safe, quality project is delivered on time.
Career Start Journey
Onboarding Week
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Peer Partner connection
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Career Starts participate in a week of cultural immersion, cohort bonding, technical job training and leadership discussions with Suffolk Executives in Boston
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Week ends with leadership discussion with Harvard Business School professor
First 90 Days
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First rotation begins
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Career Start Academy launches
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Connect with Suffolk’s subject matter experts in professional and technical trainings
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Career Starts establish goals and objectives for their 1st rotation
Year One
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First rotation completed; second rotation begins.
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Participation in Mentor groups led by Career Start alumni
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Monthly “Lunch & Learns” with Suffolk Executive Committee members
Year Two
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Second and third rotation completed
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Ongoing Learning & Development
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Plan and Control Summit Building Bootcamp
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Dinner with Senior Executives
Graduation
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Project Placement & Promotions
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Capstone event with Harvard Business School
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HBS Case Study
What our Career Starts
are saying-
“The Career Start program is an excellent way to excel quickly in the construction industry. The more you put in, the more you get out. The program puts the tools for success at your fingertips.”
Zac, CS '20
“The Career Start rotations have helped develop me into a well-rounded Superintendent. Due to my time spent in Estimating and learning the PM’s role, I can better assess which subs I should push for picking up whatever work needed. Also it’s helped me learn more people around the company and build connections that I otherwise wouldn’t have.”
Chance, CS '20
“I came into the career start program knowing almost nothing about construction. After 2 years in the program, I now feel very confident in my position as I have learned so much about the different aspects of construction.”
Hannah, CS '20
“The Career Start Program was life changing. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. It was an opportunity to challenge myself and thrive in a fast-paced industry where if you don’t know anything, but you are willing to put the time in, you can learn and become a leader quicker than you can imagine.”
Matthew, CS '20